Dishwasher

ABSTRACT

A dishwasher ( 1 ) in the form of an industrial dishwasher which is designed in the form of a box-type dishwasher, configured in the form of a hood-type dishwasher and has a treatment chamber ( 5 ) with at least one wash system designed in the form of a recirculation system. In order to make it possible to optimise the actual potential capacity of the dishwasher, to be precise while at the same time easing the burden on the operating staff, the dishwasher ( 1 ) is assigned a loading/unloading apparatus ( 4, 4 ) for preferably optionally automatically loading the treatment chamber ( 5 ) with washware ( 9 ) and/or for preferably optionally automatically unloading washware ( 9 ) from the treatment chamber ( 5 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a dishwasher in the form of an industrialdishwasher which is designed in the form of a box-type dishwasher, asclaimed in the preamble of the independent claim 1.

Accordingly, the invention relates, in particular, to a dishwasher inthe form of an industrial dishwasher which is designed in the form of abox-type dishwasher, configured in the form of a hood-type dishwasher,and has a treatment chamber with at least one wash system designed inthe form of a recirculation system.

BACKGROUND

Box-type dishwashers are manually loadable and unloadable dishwashers.Box-type dishwashers (also denoted as “box-type warewashers” or as“batch dishwashers”) may be hood-type dishwashers, also called hood-typewarewashers or front loader warewashers. Front loaders may beundercounter machines, top counter machines or free standing frontloaders.

A dishwasher configured as a box-type dishwasher generally comprises atreatment chamber for cleaning washware. Generally a wash tank isarranged below the treatment chamber, liquid being able to flow backfrom the treatment chamber into said wash tank by the force of gravity.Washing liquid, which is generally water, is located in the wash tank,detergent being able to be added thereto if required.

A dishwasher configured as a box-type dishwasher generally furthercomprises a wash system with a wash pump, a line system connected to thewash pump, and a plurality of spray nozzles configured in at least onewash arm. The washing liquid located in the wash tank may be conveyedfrom the wash pump via the line system to the wash nozzles and sprayedonto the washware to be cleaned through the wash nozzles in thetreatment chamber. The sprayed washing liquid subsequently flows backinto the wash tank.

Such a dishwasher configured as a box-type dishwasher is disclosed, forexample, in the publication DE 10 2005 023 429 A1.

The term “washware” used herein is to be understood, in particular, ascrockery, glasses, cutlery, cooking utensils, baking utensils andserving trays.

Hood-type dishwashers are used primarily (but not exclusively) forrelatively small sculleries, such as for example in relatively smallcanteens, in particular school canteens, or in the catering field. Theuse of such dishwashers is characterized by said dishwashers being ableto be used in sculleries, in which generally only a limited floor spaceis available.

An industrial dishwasher configured as a box-type dishwasher, inparticular hood-type dishwasher, differs from a household dishwasher, inparticular, in that an industrial dishwasher has to be designed suchthat—depending on the selected treatment program—program running timesof between one and five minutes may be implemented, whilst householddishwashers generally have running times of up to 2.5 hours or more. Dueto the short program times required in industrial dishwashers,techniques used in household dishwashers are generally not able to betransferred easily to industrial dishwashers.

Industrial dishwashers which are configured as box-type dishwashersgenerally operate in two main process steps: a first step which includeswashing with a washing liquid, and a second step which includes finalrinsing with a heated fresh water and metered rinse aid.

In order to be able to carry out these process steps, an industrialdishwasher configured as a box-type dishwasher is generally providedwith two independent liquid systems. The one liquid system is a washingwater circuit which is responsible for washing the washware, wherein thewashing is carried out with recirculated water from the wash tank of thedishwasher. The other liquid system is a fresh water system which isresponsible for final rinsing. The final rinsing is carried out withfresh water, preferably with fresh water from a water heater (boiler).After spraying, the fresh water is also collected by the wash tank ofthe dishwasher.

The main object of the final rinsing is to remove wash liquor from thewashware. Additionally, the final rinse water flowing into the wash tankduring the final rinsing step serves for the regeneration of the washingwater present in the wash tank.

Before fresh water is sprayed as final rinse liquid as a result of thefinal rinsing, and is thus conducted into the wash tank of thedishwasher, a quantity of washing liquid which is equal to the quantityof fresh water is pumped out of the wash tank.

Generally, industrial dishwashers which are configured as box-typedishwashers are provided with a plurality of programs. These programsdiffer primarily by the program running times of the washing processhaving different lengths. The operator has the option of selecting ashort washing program for lightly soiled washware or a correspondinglylonger washing program for heavily soiled washware.

In industrial dishwashing, different approaches are used for loadingwashware into and unloading washware out of the treatment chamber inbatches: in front loader machines, the washware is placed in a rack andthe rack loaded with washware is placed into the treatment chamber ofthe dishwasher through a front door, and after cleaning removed againthrough the front door. However, in hood-type machines the racks loadedwith washware are pushed manually into the treatment chamber from anentry side and after the completion of a washing program are manuallyremoved from the treatment chamber from an exit side. Front loadermachines and hood-type machines contain only a single treatment chamberfor treating the washware.

Almost without exception, industrial dishwashers, which are designed asbox-type dishwashers and for loading washware into and unloadingwashware out of the treatment chamber in batches, are designed withentry and/or exit tables. On the entry side of the dishwasher, generallythe dirty washware is manually pre-cleared and manually pre-washed.Moreover, here the dirty washware is loaded into special racks. The exitside serves for drying and unloading the racks.

In particular in dishwashers designed as hood-type machines, from anergonomic perspective it is preferred if the wash plane is located atthe same height as the entry and exit table. In this manner, the racksto be cleaned may be easily and ergonomically pushed from the entrytable into the dishwasher and, after cleaning has been completed, pushedout of the dishwasher onto the exit table.

The term “wash plane” used herein is understood as the horizontal planein which the rack is located. In the treatment chamber of a dishwasher,the wash plane is generally fixed by a guide system, in particular guiderails, which receives a rack which is pushed into the treatment chamberfrom an entry table provided on the entry side of the machine. In thismanner, the racks to be cleaned may be pushed from the entry table intothe hood-type dishwasher and, after cleaning has been completed, pushedout of the hood-type dishwasher onto the exit table.

This loading and unloading of the hood-type dishwasher takes placemanually according to the current prior art, i.e. after carrying outpre-clearing on the entry side the operator pushes the rack to becleaned manually from the entry table into the dishwasher and, after thecleaning cycle has been completed in the dishwasher, the operator pushesthe cleaned rack from the machine onto the exit table of the exit side.

Since, in particular, hood-type dishwashers are designed to clean largequantities of washware in the shortest possible time, the operator ofthe dishwasher has to manually load and unload the dishwasher veryfrequently at maximum capacity. Thus in a typical hood-type dishwashermanufactured by the company Hobart, the duration of the preset standardprogram, which is generally used for washware, such as plates, bowls,cups, glasses, with a normal level of soiling is only 70 seconds, i.e.the theoretical capacity is up to 52 racks per hour. This means that atmaximum capacity the operator of the dishwasher has to load and unloadup to 52 times per hour. Moreover, this involves additional work for theoperator since in this time, for example, he is not able to pre-clearany further dirty crockery on the entry side or, for example, he is notable to stow away any already cleaned washware on the exit side forfurther use.

Moreover, it is difficult for the operator to make full use of themaximum possible capacity of the dishwasher since he always has to payattention to whether and/or when the washing program is finished so thatimmediately afterwards he can then remove the rack which has just beencleaned and load the machine again with the next rack to be cleaned.

SUMMARY

Due to the problem set forth above, accordingly the object of theinvention is to develop a dishwasher of the type specified in theintroduction, such that the capacity of the machine which is actuallyable to be implemented may be optimized and namely whilst simultaneouslyeasing the burden on the personnel.

This object is achieved, in particular, by a dishwasher in the form ofan industrial dishwasher which is designed in the form of a box-typedishwasher, configured in the form of a hood-type dishwasher, and has atreatment chamber with at least one wash system designed in the form ofa recirculation system. According to the invention, the dishwashercomprises a loading/unloading apparatus and/or the dishwasher isassigned a corresponding loading/unloading apparatus, wherein thisloading/unloading apparatus is configured for preferably optionallyautomatically loading the treatment chamber of the dishwasher withwashware, and/or for preferably optionally automatically unloadingwashware from the treatment chamber of the dishwasher.

The advantages which are able to be achieved by the solution accordingto the invention are obvious. In particular, with the dishwasheraccording to the invention it is no longer necessary (as was the casehitherto) to load and/or unload this dishwasher manually. Instead, thedishwasher is assigned a loading/unloading apparatus by which theseoperating steps which are generally carried out manually may befulfilled.

For example, it is conceivable to provide the dishwasher and/or theentry and exit tables of the dishwasher with an automaticloading/unloading apparatus.

As a whole, therefore, by means of the solution according to theinvention manual operating steps may be saved, i.e. the work for themachine operator may be reduced, since the operator no longer has toload and unload the dishwasher manually. Moreover, the solutionaccording to the invention ensures an operation of the dishwasher whichis as simple, ergonomic and user-friendly as possible, since both thecleaning process and the loading and unloading of the dishwasher takesplace and/or may take place fully automatically.

Apart from this, the maximum possible capacity of the machine may bebetter utilized, since the operator may concentrate fully and entirelyon the tasks on the entry and exit side of the dishwasher, whilst thecleaning process in the dishwasher and the loading/unloading of thedishwasher may take place fully automatically.

Based on the program times cited in the introduction to the descriptionof a typical hood-type dishwasher manufactured by the company Hobart andbased on the assumption that the manual loading and unloading of atypical hood-type dishwasher and the manual opening and closing of thehood required therefor in each case lasts approximately 5 seconds, as aresult with a maximum capacity of 42 racks per hour, a total of 8.5minutes may be saved. In this case, it is advantageous, in particular,if the hood of the dishwasher according to the invention is alsoautomatically opened and/or closed.

According to advantageous embodiments of the dishwasher according to theinvention, it is provided that, on its entry side, the dishwasher isassigned an entry region which, at least in certain regions, is formedpreferably by an entry table, wherein the loading/unloading apparatus isdesigned to load the treatment chamber with washware, preferablyoptionally automatically, from the entry region. Alternatively oradditionally, on its exit side, the dishwasher may be assigned an exitregion which, at least in certain regions, is formed preferably by anexit table, wherein the loading/unloading apparatus is designed tounload washware from the treatment chamber, preferably optionallyautomatically, onto the exit region.

In principle, in this connection it is advantageous if the treatmentchamber is designed for a rack, in which at least some of the washwareto be treated in the treatment chamber is, or can be accommodated, to beaccommodated such that the lower region of the rack, over which thewashware rests, is located in a previously defined or definablehorizontal wash plane, which is preferably aligned with a table plane atleast of an entry or exit table, which forms, at least in certainregions, an entry or exit region of the dishwasher.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the loading/unloadingapparatus has at least one transporting arrangement for transportingwashware from an entry region of the dishwasher into the treatmentchamber and/or for transporting washware from the treatment chamber toan exit region of the dishwasher.

On the other hand, it is also conceivable if the dishwasher has anopening which can be closed via a door, in particular hood, movablerelative to the treatment chamber and through which the treatmentchamber can be loaded with washware and/or through which washware can beunloaded from the treatment chamber, wherein the dishwasher also has akinematics unit which is assigned to the door, in particular hood, andvia which the door can be moved preferably automatically, and even morepreferably optionally automatically, relative to the treatment chamber.In this connection, it is provided if the kinematics unit, which isassigned to the door, in particular hood, has a drive which is coupledto a program-control device of the dishwasher preferably such that thedoor, in particular hood, is opened preferably automatically at the end,or following completion, of a wash or rinse cycle of the dishwasher,and/or such that the door, in particular hood, is closed preferablyautomatically at the beginning, or before the beginning, of a wash orrinse cycle.

According to advantageous embodiments of the dishwasher according to theinvention, the loading/unloading apparatus has at least one drive whichis coupled to a program-control device of the dishwasher, preferablysuch that washware is transported from the treatment chamber to an exitregion of the dishwasher preferably automatically following completion,or at the end, of a wash or rinse cycle of the dishwasher, and/or suchthat washware is transported from an entry region of the dishwasher intothe treatment chamber preferably automatically following completion, orat the end, of a wash or rinse cycle of the dishwasher.

In principle, it is conceivable if there is also a sensor systemprovided which is designed to sense the presence of washware, and/or thequantity of washware present, in the entry region of the dishwasher, andin particular in a previously defined or definable region of the entryregion, and to activate the loading/unloading apparatus preferablyautomatically, and even more preferably optionally automatically, independence on the sensing result.

Alternatively or additionally, there is a sensor system provided whichis designed to sense the presence of washware and/or the quantity ofwashware present, in the exit region of the dishwasher and to activatethe loading/unloading apparatus preferably automatically, and even morepreferably optionally automatically, in dependence on the sensingresult.

According to advantageous embodiments of the dishwasher according to theinvention, this dishwasher has a control device which is designed toactivate a drive of the loading/unloading apparatus preferablyautomatically once the door, in particular hood, has been transferredinto its open position. In this case, it is conceivable if the controldevice is designed to activate the drive of the loading/unloadingapparatus for a previously defined or definable period of time, whereinthe period of time is selected such that the treatment chamber can befully loaded and/or unloaded.

According to developments of the dishwasher according to the invention,the kinematics unit, which is assigned to the door, in particular hood,and the loading/unloading apparatus each have a drive which can beactivated via a control device preferably such that the drive of thekinematics unit, which is assigned to the door, in particular hood, isactivated as required or automatically following completion, or at theend, of a wash or rinse cycle of the dishwasher, in order to transferthe door, in particular hood, into an open position, and that the driveof the loading/unloading apparatus is activated in order to unloadwashware from the treatment chamber and/or to load the treatment chamberwith washware.

According to embodiments of the dishwasher according to the invention,the loading/unloading apparatus has a loading system for preferablyoptionally automatically loading the treatment chamber with washware andalso has an unloading system, configured preferably separately from theloading system, for preferably optionally automatically unloadingwashware from the treatment chamber. The loading system and theunloading system may be configured separately from one anotherpreferably such that they can be actuated independently of one anotherby means of a control device or manually.

The invention is not limited to dishwashers in which the treatmentchamber only comprises one treatment zone with one wash plane. Insteadthe invention also relates to such dishwashers in which the treatmentchamber has a first treatment zone with a first wash plane and at leastone further second treatment zone with a second wash plane, whereinitems of washware can be treated independently of one another and, atleast intermittently, at the same time in the first and in the at leastone second treatment zone.

In such embodiments it is advantageous if the loading/unloadingapparatus is designed to load items of washware into the at least twotreatment zones independently of one another and/or to unload items ofwashware from the at least two treatment zones independently of oneanother.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the invention is describedin more detail hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A to 1H show a program sequence/a functional diagram of anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows schematically a box-type dishwasher designed as a hood-typedishwasher according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic and isometric view of a program operated hooddishwasher according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3a shows a detail of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 schematically shows a plan view of the treatment chamber of thehood dishwasher according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 schematically shows a side view of the hood dishwasher accordingto FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 schematically shows a front view of the hood dishwasher accordingto FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to industrial dishwashers 1, in particulardishwashers in the form of a box-type dishwasher. In particular, thepresent invention relates to box-type dishwashers designed as hood-typedishwashers.

An industrial dishwasher 1 designed as a box-type dishwasher generallycomprises a program-control device (also denoted herein as “controldevice”) for controlling at least one cleaning program and a treatmentchamber 5 in a machine housing which is closable by at least one door 7and/or at least one hood 6 for receiving washware 9 to be cleaned, suchas for example crockery, cutlery, pots, pans, trays and glasses.

As may be derived, in particular, from the drawings in FIG. 1A, it isadvantageous ergonomically if a box-type dishwasher, designed as ahood-type dishwasher 1, is provided in each case on its entry side andexit side with a table (entry table 2, exit table 3). The racks 8 loadedwith dirty washware 9, therefore, may be pushed into the dishwasher 1 onthe entry table 2. After treatment of the washware 9 in the treatmentchamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 the rack 8 is moved with the now cleanedwashware 9 from the machine 1 onto the exit table 3.

The action time, i.e. the time during which the cleaning liquid orwashing liquid wets the washware 9 inside the treatment chamber 5,depends, in particular, on the duration of the washing phase fixed bythe treatment program. For normally soiled washware 9 such as plates,bowls, cups and/or glasses, a cleaning cycle consisting of a washingphase and a subsequent final rinsing phase generally requires between 50to 100 seconds. However, a longer treatment of the washware 9 may benecessary, in particular, if this washware has a greater degree ofsoiling or if dirt is burnt onto the washware 9. Frequently an extensionof the total treatment time of up to 400 seconds is required. Due to theextended action time, the washware 9 to be cleaned is subjected to anintensive treatment so that more heavily soiled washware 9 may also beeffectively cleaned.

As is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to theexemplary program sequence according to FIGS. 1A to 1H, the dishwasher 1according to the invention is assigned a loading/unloading apparatus 4,4′ for preferably optionally automatically loading the treatment chamber5 of the dishwasher 1 with washware 9 and/or for preferably optionallyautomatically unloading washware 9 from the treatment chamber 5.

Specifically, on its entry side, the dishwasher 1 according to theexemplary embodiment is assigned an entry region 2′ which, at least incertain regions, is formed preferably by an entry table 2. Moreover, onits exit side, the dishwasher 1 is assigned an exit region 3′ which, atleast in certain regions, is preferably formed by an exit table 3.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings of the dishwasher 1according to the invention, the loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′comprises at least one transporting arrangement for transportingwashware 9 as required from the entry region 2′ of the dishwasher 1 intothe treatment chamber 5 and/or for transporting washware 9 as requiredfrom the treatment chamber 5 to the exit region 3′ of the dishwasher 1.

The at least one transporting arrangement of the loading/unloadingapparatus 4, 4′ is configured, in particular, for preferably optionallyautomatically loading the treatment chamber 5 with washware 9 from theentry region 2′ and/or for preferably optionally automatically unloadingwashware 9 from the treatment chamber 5 into the exit region 3′. In thiscase, it is advantageous if the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1is designed for a rack 8, in which at least some of the washware to betreated in the treatment chamber 5 is, or can be accommodated, to beaccommodated such that the lower region of the rack, over which the rack8 rests, is located in a previously defined or definable horizontal washplane, which is preferably aligned with a table plane of the entry orexit table 2, 3, which forms the entry or exit region 2′, 3′ of thedishwasher 1.

Moreover, it may be derived from the drawings that the exemplaryembodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention 1 comprises anopening which can be closed by a door, in particular hood 6, movablerelative to the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 and throughwhich the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 can be loaded withwashware 9 and/or through which washware 9 can be unloaded from thetreatment chamber 5.

The door, in particular hood 6, comprises a correspondingly assignedkinematics unit via which the door (hood 6) can be moved relative to thetreatment chamber 5. In this connection it is conceivable that thekinematics unit assigned to the door (hood 6) is configured to move thedoor (hood 6) automatically and preferably optionally automaticallyrelative to the treatment chamber 5.

It is conceivable in this connection if the kinematics unit assigned tothe door (hood 6) has a drive which is coupled to a program-controldevice of the dishwasher 1 preferably such that the door 7 (inparticular hood 6) is opened preferably automatically at the end, orfollowing completion, of a wash or rinse cycle of the dishwasher 1.

Alternatively or additionally, it is advantageous if the drive of thekinematics unit is activated or is activatable via the program-controldevice, such that the door (hood 6) is preferably automatically closedat the beginning, or before the beginning, of a wash or rinse cycle.

Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according tothe invention it is provided that the loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′comprises at least one drive which is preferably coupled to aprogram-control device of the dishwasher 1 such that washware 9 istransported from the treatment chamber 5 to the exit region 3′ of thedishwasher 1 preferably automatically following completion, or at theend, of a wash or rinse cycle of the dishwasher 1 and/or washware 9 istransported from the entry region 2′ into the treatment chamber 5preferably automatically following completion, or at the end, of a washor rinse cycle of the dishwasher 1.

In this connection, according to embodiments of the invention there is asensor system provided which is designed to sense the presence ofwashware 9, and/or the quantity of washware 9 present, in the entryregion 2′ of the dishwasher 1 and, in particular, in a previouslydefined or definable region of the entry region 2′ and to activate theloading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ preferably automatically, and evenmore preferably optionally automatically, in dependence on the sensingresult.

Similarly, additionally or alternatively thereto, it is conceivable thatthere is a sensor system provided which is designed to sense thepresence of washware 9, and/or the quantity of washware 9 present, inthe exit region 3′ of the dishwasher 1 and to activate theloading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ preferably automatically, and evenmore preferably optionally automatically, in dependence on the sensingresult.

Returning to the drawings, it may be identified that in FIG. 1A theinitial state of an exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 accordingto the invention is shown schematically. In this initial state the racksto be washed are located in the entry region 2′ of the machine.Moreover, the door (hood 6) of the dishwasher 1 is opened and themachine is located in the so-called standby state.

By a suitable sensor system in this case it is detected that a rack 8 tobe washed is present in the entry region 2′ of the dishwasher 1. Fromhere automatically a transporting arrangement of the loading/unloadingapparatus 4, 4′ is activated and the rack 8 to be washed is transportedinto the treatment chamber 5 of the open dishwasher 1 (FIG. 1B).

After the rack 8 to be cleaned has been transported via the transportingarrangement of the loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ from the entryregion 2′ of the dishwasher 1 into the treatment chamber 5, theautomatic loading is completed. To this end it is conceivable to providea corresponding sensor system, by which a defined end position of therack 8 in the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 is detected.

Subsequently, the door (hood 6) of the dishwasher 1 may be closed.Preferably this takes place automatically via a drive assigned to thedoor (hood 6) (FIG. 1C).

After closing the dishwasher 1 the cleaning cycle starts, said cleaningcycle preferably also taking place automatically. It is conceivable inthis connection that via corresponding sensors it is detected that thedoor (hood 6) of the dishwasher 1 is completely closed and a rack 8 tobe cleaned is received in the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1(FIG. 1D).

Whilst the cleaning cycle runs (is active), a further rack 8 is preparedby an operator, not shown in the drawings, (pre-clearing, etc.) asindicated in FIG. 1E.

After the cleaning cycle has been completed, preferably the door (hood6) of the dishwasher is opened automatically (FIG. 1F).

Preferably, via a suitable sensor system it is detected if the door(hood 6) is completely open. Then the transporting arrangement(s) of theloading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ is(are) activated, which preferablytakes place automatically again. As a result, the rack 8 which waspreviously washed in the treatment chamber 5 of the transport dishwasheris automatically unloaded in the exit region 3′ of the dishwasher 1,whilst the further rack 8 which was already prepared during the cleaningcycle is automatically transported into the treatment chamber 5 of thedishwasher 1 (FIG. 1G).

After completing the automatic loading/unloading of the dishwasher 1 thedoor (hood 6) of the machine is preferably automatically closed (FIG.1H) and the cleaning process starts again, in a manner similar to FIG.1D.

As shown, for example, in FIG. 2, a further exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention relates to a (rack-type 8) dishwasher 1 designed as ahood-type dishwasher 1, which in particular is characterized in that afurther treatment zone 5 b is configured in addition to theconventionally provided (main) treatment zone 5 a, said furthertreatment zone being arranged below this treatment zone 5 a. The uppermain treatment zone 5 a which is also denoted as the “first treatmentzone” is configured in order to receive a rack 8 which optionally may beloaded with the washware 9 to be treated.

To this end, the bottom surface of the first treatment zone 5 a and/ormain treatment zone has a dimension adapted to the bottom surface of arack and, in particular, a bottom surface of 600 mm×500 mm, 500 mm×500mm or 400 mm×400 mm.

Moreover, the main treatment zone 5 a is configured such that the rack 8may be transported from an entry table 2 directly into the treatmentzone 5 a of the hood dishwasher 1. In other words, the wash plane of themain treatment zone 5 a is aligned in the horizontal direction with thetable height of the entry table 2.

In a preferred manner, an exit table 3 is also provided, wherein thetable height of the exit table 3 is also aligned horizontally with thewash plane of the main treatment zone 5 a, so that after treatment inthe main treatment zone 5 a the rack 8 may be transported directly tothe exit table 3.

As already indicated, a further treatment zone 5 b is designed below themain treatment zone 5 a. This further treatment zone 5 b which in thiscase is also denoted as the “second treatment zone” or “auxiliarytreatment zone” serves, in particular, for cleaning washware 9 whichrequires a longer action time in comparison with the washware 9 to becleaned in the first treatment zone 5 a.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the second treatment zone 5b is also designed to receive a rack 8, wherein the washware 9 to betreated in the further treatment zone 5 b is received in the rack 8.

Specifically, the dimensions and cleaning capacity of the main treatmentzone 5 a (first treatment zone) and the dimensions and cleaning capacityof the auxiliary treatment zone 5 b (second treatment zone) arepreferably adapted to the type of washware to be cleaned and whichgenerally accumulates in sculleries (such as for example crockery,cutlery, glasses and pots), the quantity of washware 9 to be cleaned andwhich generally accumulates per time unit, depending on the type ofwashware, and/or the degree of soiling of the washware present per timeunit, such that even at peak times during operation of the dishwasher 1all of the washware 9 which accumulates may be cleaned as far aspossible without delay.

As shown, in the exemplary embodiment of the invention shownschematically in FIG. 2 it is provided that washware 9 may be loadedinto and unloaded from the two treatment zones 5 a, 5 b independently ofone another. Specifically, washware 9 may be loaded into and unloadedfrom the first treatment zone 5 a via an opening which is closable by ahood 6 which is displaceable in the vertical direction. The displacementpath of the hood 6 is, for example, at least 300 mm, preferably at least400 mm, whilst the first treatment zone has an effective height of atleast 400 mm for cleaning washware 9.

On the other hand, the second treatment zone 5 b has an effective heightfor cleaning washware 9 of, for example, at least 120 mm, and preferablyof at least 150 mm, so that cutlery received in the cutlery baskets mayalso be cleaned in this treatment zone 5 b.

Additionally, the second treatment zone 5 b has a separate closableopening, via which washware 9 may be loaded into and unloaded from thistreatment zone.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, in particular it isprovided that the second treatment zone 5 b comprises a dedicatedopening which is closable via a door 7 which is pivotable about ahorizontal pivot axis, via which washware 9 may be loaded into andunloaded from the second treatment zone 5 b.

In this case, it is advantageous, in particular, if the door 7 which ispivotable about a horizontal pivot axis is configured such that in itsopen state it is aligned horizontally with the wash plane of the furthertreatment zone 5 b. In this manner, in its open state the door 7 servesat the same time as a loading and unloading aid for pushing the washware9 and/or the rack 8 in and/or out.

Whilst not shown in FIG. 2, it is advantageous if the dishwasher 1,which is shown schematically here, is provided with a correspondingloading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ for preferably optionallyautomatically loading the treatment chamber 5 with washware 9 and/or forpreferably optionally automatically unloading washware 9 from thetreatment chamber 5.

The loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ is intended to be configured suchthat washware 9 may be loaded into the treatment zones 5 a, 5 b of thetreatment chamber 5 preferably optionally automatically andindependently of one another and/or washware 9 may be unloaded from thetreatment zones 5 a, 5 b of the treatment chamber 5 preferablyoptionally automatically and independently of one another.

Briefly summarized, the solution according to the invention ischaracterized, in particular, by the following points:

The hood-type dishwasher 1 (single tank dishwasher, box-type dishwasher)is provided with an automatic loading and/or unloading apparatus for theautomatic loading of racks in the machine and/or for the automaticunloading of racks from the machine. In this case it is conceivable ifthe automatic loading and/or unloading apparatus is not a directcomponent of the dishwasher 1 but, for example, is integrated in theentry and/or exit tables, or as a separate unit may complement anexisting combined hood-type dishwasher 1 and table.

Preferably, the automatic loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ may becombined with an optionally already available automatic hood lift forautomatically opening and closing the door (hood 6), in order toimplement thereby a fully automatic loading and unloading of thedishwasher 1 without additional manual operating steps. In this manner,for the first time a continuous (fully automatic) operating sequence maybe implemented by an industrial dishwasher.

According to embodiments of the invention, the loading apparatus and theunloading apparatus are separate units which are driven independently ofone another, for example with two independent drives. Alternatively oradditionally it is conceivable to use and/or install the automaticloading and the automatic unloading individually and independently ofone another if, for example for organizational reasons, automation isable to be implemented only on one side (entry or exit side).

In principle, however, it is also conceivable if the automaticloading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ is driven by a common drive.

According to embodiments of the present invention, it is provided thatthe automatic loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ is not continuously inoperation but only activated automatically when a wash cycle iscompleted, and the washed rack 8 may be unloaded and optionally the nextrack 8 to be washed may be loaded.

Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also conceivable that theautomatic loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ is not continuously inoperation but is automatically activated if no rack 8 is located in thedishwasher 1 and a rack 8 to be washed is pushed and/or placed on theentry table 2 at a defined position.

In principle, it is provided in particular to activate and/or deactivatethe automatic loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ in a manner which iscontrolled by sensor, i.e. when a rack 8 is in a defined end position.In this connection, however, an optionally automatic loading/unloadingof the dishwasher 1 should be possible. In other words, as analternative to the automatically controlled activation, it isadvantageous if the loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ is also able to beactivated manually, for example by means of a separate switch.

In a development of the invention, it is provided in particular that theautomatic loading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ is not only used forloading/unloading the actual dishwasher 1 but also functional unitsarranged upstream or downstream thereof, such as for example apre-clearing unit on the entry side and a drying or polishing unit onthe exit side, may be loaded/unloaded thereby.

According to further embodiments of the invention, it is provided thatthe dishwasher 1 is provided with at least two wash planes i.e. not onlya main wash plane but also a second additional wash plane, wherein bothwash planes may be loaded and unloaded by the automaticloading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′. In this case, it is advantageous ifthe loading/unloading of the two wash planes may take place bothdependent on one another and independent of one another.

For the automatic loading/unloading according to embodiments of thedishwasher 1 according to the invention it is provided that theloading/unloading apparatus 4, 4′ comprises a transporting arrangement,for example in the form of a driven roller conveyor, a conveyor belt, athrust-action drive by means of drive elements or the like, wherein thistransporting arrangement makes it possible for the rack 8 to move in atranslatory manner from the entry table 2 into the machine and from themachine onto the exit table 3.

Hereinafter, with reference to the illustrations in FIGS. 3 to 6, a hooddishwasher 1, which is program operated, according to a furtherembodiment of the invention is described.

The hood dishwasher 1 according to this further embodiment correspondsin structural and functional terms substantially to the previouslydescribed embodiments of the hood dishwasher according to the invention,so reference is made to the previous description in order to avoidrepetition of description that overlaps with the previous embodiments.

However, in the further embodiment of the hood dishwasher 1 according tothe invention as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the loading/unloading device 4shown in more detail.

In detail, in this further embodiment, the loading/unloading device 4 isdesigned as a basket transport system, which is completely integrated inthe dishwasher 1, and in particular in the treatment chamber 5 of thedishwasher 1. In other words, in a state when the hood type dishwasheris closed (not shown in the drawings), the loading/unloading device 4,designed as a basket transporting system, is housed inside the treatmentchamber 5 of the dishwasher 1, and particularly not externally thereof.Thus, the loading/unloading device is enclosed by the hood 6 and otherhousing structure of the dishwasher when the hood 6 is moved to its downposition to close the dishwasher.

The loading/unloading device 4 designed as a basket transport system isin particular designed in such a way that a rinsing basket can beloaded, for example, from a feed table, not shown, into the treatmentchamber 5 with this basket transport system, and a second rinse basketfrom the treatment chamber, simultaneously with the movement of atransport mechanism of the basket transport system 5, can be discharged,for example, on a not shown in the drawings outlet table.

For this purpose, the transport system of the loading/unloading device 4designed as a basket transport system has a multiplicity of fingers 8designed as grippers which project into the treatment chamber 5 of thedishwasher 1 at least in regions. These fingers 8 serve to form areleasable engagement with a dish rack to be transported into thetreatment chamber 5 or with a dish rack to be transported out of thetreatment chamber 5.

The fingers 8 are arranged on a support 9, wherein this support 9 isassociated with a linear drive to, if necessary, move the support 9 withthe fingers 8 in a horizontal linear movement relative to the treatmentchamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 (e.g., movement of the support 9 andfingers 8 left to right and right to left in the view of FIG. 6).

Furthermore, it is provided that the fingers 8 are movable in adirection perpendicular to the above described linear movement of thecarrier 9 relative to the treatment chamber 5, to move in a direction ofor toward the treatment chamber 5 (e.g., a direction out of the page inthe view of FIG. 6) into a state of engagement with a corresponding dishrack. In this way, for example, the fingers 8 can engage a rack toassure movement of the dish rack out of the treatment chamber as thecarrier is moving, for example, left to right in the view of FIG. 6 inorder to unload a dish rack. The fingers can also be moved to aretracted or partially retracted state (e.g., by movement in a directioninto the page in the view of FIG. 6) when, for example, the carrier isbeing moved in an opposite (horizontal) direction relative to thetreatment chamber 5 (e.g., right to left in the view of FIG. 6) in orderto move the carrier 9 into position to receive another dish rack forloading. Once the carrier 9 completes its movement to a dish rack loadposition, the fingers 8 can again be extended away from the carrier 9 toengage the dish rack to be loaded. So it is conceivable, for example,that a drive may be assigned to the fingers 8 to move the fingers in adirection perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carrier 9and relative to the treatment chamber 5 to move the fingers relative tothe carrier 9. The fingers 8 may all be controlled by a shared drive,but it is also conceivable that each finger 8 may have its own drive inorder to facilitate individual control of the fingers 8.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable, that the carrier 9 itself,together with the fingers 8, could be movable in a horizontal plane inthe direction of the treatment chamber 5 and in the opposite direction(e.g., both carrier 9 and fingers 8 also movable together in a directioninto the page or a direction out of the page in the view of FIG. 6), toengage with or release an engagement with a dish rack.

In this context, it is conceivable, if the drive for moving the carrier9 and/or the fingers 8 is also formed, if necessary, to move the hood 6of the dishwasher 1 in the vertical direction relative to the treatmentchamber 5.

1. A dishwasher (1) in the form of an industrial dishwasher which isdesigned in the form of a box-type dishwasher, configured in the form ofa hood-type dishwasher and has a treatment chamber (5) with at least onewash system designed in the form of a recirculation system, wherein thedishwasher (1) is assigned a loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) forautomatically loading the treatment chamber (5) with washware (9) and/orfor automatically unloading washware (9) from the treatment chamber (5).2. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, on its entry side,the dishwasher (1) is assigned an entry region (2′) which, at least incertain regions, is formed by an entry table (2), wherein theloading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) is designed to load the treatmentchamber (5) with washware (9), automatically, from the entry region(2′).
 3. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, on itsexit side, the dishwasher (1) is assigned an exit region (3′) which, atleast in certain regions, is formed by an exit table (3), wherein theloading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) is designed to unload washware (9)from the treatment chamber (5), automatically, onto the exit region(3′).
 4. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the treatmentchamber (5) is designed for a rack (8), in which at least some of thewashware (9) to be treated in the treatment chamber (5) is, or can beaccommodated, to be accommodated such that the lower region of the rack,over which the washware (9) rests, is located in a previously defined ordefinable horizontal wash plane, which is aligned with a table plane atleast of an entry or exit table (2, 3), which forms, at least in certainregions, an entry or exit region (2′, 3′) of the dishwasher (1).
 5. Thedishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loading/unloadingapparatus (4, 4′) has at least one transporting arrangement fortransporting washware (9) from an entry region (2′) of the dishwasher(1) into the treatment chamber (5) and/or for transporting washware (9)from the treatment chamber (5) to an exit region (3′) of the dishwasher(1).
 6. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher(1) has at least one opening which can be closed via a door (7), whereinthe door is in the form of a hood (6), movable relative to the treatmentchamber (5) and through which the treatment chamber (5) can be loadedwith washware (9) and/or through which washware (9) can be unloaded fromthe treatment chamber (5), wherein the dishwasher (1) also has akinematics unit which is assigned to the door (7), and via which thedoor (7) can be moved automatically relative to the treatment chamber(5).
 7. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the kinematicsunit, which is assigned to the door (7), in particular hood (6), has adrive which is coupled to a program-control device of the dishwasher (1)such that the door (7), in particular hood (6) is opened automaticallyat the end, or following completion, of a wash or rinse cycle of thedishwasher (1), and/or such that the door (7), in particular hood (6) isclosed automatically at the beginning, or before the beginning, of awash or rinse cycle.
 8. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 6 or 7,wherein the dishwasher (1) has a control device which is designed toactivate a drive of the loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′)automatically once the door (7) has been transferred into its openposition, wherein the control device is designed to activate the driveof the loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) for a previously defined ordefinable period of time, wherein the period of time is selected suchthat the treatment chamber (5) can be fully loaded and/or unloaded. 9.The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the kinematics unitand the loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) each have a drive which canbe is activated via a control device such that the drive of thekinematics unit is activated as required or automatically followingcompletion, or at the end, of a wash or rinse cycle of the dishwasher(1), in order to transfer the door (7) into an open position, and that adrive of the loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) is activated asrequired or automatically following completion, or at the end, of a washor rinse cycle of the dishwasher (1), in order to unload washware (9)from the treatment chamber (5) and/or to load the treatment chamber (5)with washware (9).
 10. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) has at least one drive which iscoupled to a program-control device of the dishwasher (1) such thatwashware (9) is transported from the treatment chamber (5) to an exitregion (3′) of the dishwasher (1) automatically following completion, orat the end, of a wash or rinse cycle of the dishwasher (1), and/or suchthat washware (9) is transported from an entry region (2′) of thedishwasher (1) into the treatment chamber (5) automatically followingcompletion, or at the end, of a wash or rinse cycle of the dishwasher(1).
 11. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is alsoa sensor system provided which is designed to sense the presence ofwashware (9), and/or the quantity of washware (9) present, in the entryregion (2′) of the dishwasher (1), and in particular in a previouslydefined or definable region of the entry region (2′), and to activatethe loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) automatically in dependence onthe sensing result; and/or wherein there is also a sensor systemprovided which is designed to sense the presence of washware (9), and/orthe quantity of washware (9) present, in the exit region (3′) of thedishwasher (1) and to activate the loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′)automatically in dependence on the sensing result.
 12. The dishwasher(1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loading/unloading apparatus (4,4′) has a loading system (4) for automatically loading the treatmentchamber (5) with washware (9) and also has an unloading system (4′),configured separately from the loading system (4), for automaticallyunloading washware (9) from the treatment chamber (5), and wherein theloading system (4) and the unloading system (4′) are configuredseparately from one another such that they can be actuated independentlyof one another by means of a control device or manually.
 13. Thedishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the treatment chamber (5)has a first treatment zone (5 a) and at least one further, secondtreatment zone (5 b), wherein items of washware (9) can be treatedindependently of one another and, at least intermittently, at the sametime in the first and in the at least one second treatment zone (5 a, 5b), and wherein the loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) is designed toload items of washware (9) into the treatment zones (5 a, 5 b) of thetreatment chamber (5) automatically and independently of one anotherand/or to unload items of washware (9), automatically, independentlyfrom one another from the treatment zones (5 a, 5 b) of the treatmentchamber (5).
 14. The dishwasher (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein theloading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) has a transporting arrangement inthe form of a driven roller conveyor, wherein the transportingarrangement makes it possible for a rack (8) to move in translatoryfashion from an entry table (2) into the dishwasher (1) and/or from thedishwasher (1) onto an exit table (3).
 15. The dishwasher (1) as claimedin claim 1, wherein the loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) is alsodesigned to load washware, automatically, onto, and/or to unloadwashware, automatically, from, a functional unit provided upstream ordownstream of the dishwasher (1).
 16. A hood-type dishwasher,comprising: a treatment chamber (5) with at least one wash system in theform of a recirculation system; and a loading/unloading apparatus (4,4′) for automatically loading the treatment chamber (5) with washware(9) and/or for automatically unloading washware (9) from the treatmentchamber (5); wherein, on an entry side of the dishwasher (1), an entryregion (2′) is, at least in certain regions, formed by an entry table(2), wherein the loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) is configured toload the treatment chamber (5) with washware (9), automatically, fromthe entry region (2′); wherein, on an exit side of the dishwasher (1),an exit region (3′) is, at least in certain regions, formed by an exittable (3), wherein the loading/unloading apparatus (4, 4′) is configuredto unload washware (9) from the treatment chamber (5), automatically,onto the exit region (3′).